Archive for October, 2008

Official OBAMA campaign artist SHEPARD FAIREY has had the biggest year of his professional life in 2008 but nothing yet compares to the cover of this month's MAD MAGAZINE that parodies his now ubiquitous "Hope" poster with Alfred E Newman taking the place of the Big O. Their new "Hopeless" poster is just icing on the cake...

To commemorate his groundbreaking show in Paris, artist TOM SACHS has released a special must-have T-shirt supporting the OBAMA campaign in its final stretch as we approach the election next week. Available only at Parisian retail palace COLETTE, the shirt features a rendering of Sachs' Hello Kitty Eiffel Tower installation with the words "OBAMA 08" on the back. Just the thought of the French walking around Paris with an American (would-be) president's name on their backs makes a tear drop our eyes...

Following his two awe-inspiring solo shows in NYC earlier this year, Supertouch buddy & perhaps today's most visionary artist TOM SACHS brought his troupe of crying HELLO KITTY sculptures first exhibited at Lever House in Manhattan last month to the Paris to be displayed at the base of the fashion capital's most iconic sight, the Eiffel Tower. Exhibited in conjunction with his show of new works at GALERIE THADDAEUS ROPAC that debuted in the City of Lights on October 23rd—the centerpiece of which was an epic half pipe sculpture composed of two fully-skateable life-sized bronze quarter pipes alongside other bronze castings and wood burned plywood pieces—Sach's menagerie of Sanrio sculptures appear to be constructed of the artist's favorite material, foamcore, but are actually giant bronzes cast and painted to resemble the cheap material that is the hallmark of the New Yorker's oeuvre.

Earlier this month Hollywood hardcore fans got an incredibly rare treat when, ironically, NIKE SPORTSWEAR presented the official release of "Radio Silence: A Selected Visual History of American Hardcore Music,” at THE MONTALBAN in Hollywood featuring a live performance by none other than the CRO MAGS. Compiled by authors Nathan Nedorostek and Anthony Pappalardo—who were also a part of a Q&A with attendees alongside Chris Bratton (Chain of Strength), John Roa (End To End/Justice League), Jason Farrel (Swiz), John Joseph (Cro-Mags), Sean Ross (Excel), Dan O'Mahoney (No For An Answer/Carry Nation), and Gavin Oglesby (No For An Answer/Carry Nation)—the book masterfully traces the origins and influence of hardcore music from its glory days in the 1980s till now with crucial vintage photographs and insightful essays. A crowd of the faithful wrapped around the block onto Hollywood Blvd and nearly ripped the place to shreds as the evening proved that the youth are indeed still restless. HAVE A LOOK:Read More

Yeah, we said it, like graffiti the toy thing is long dead. RIP. Fortunately, genre godheads like England's JAMES JARVIS still manage to release beautiful product as a reminder of a once-flourishing scene that might still see a comeback before the final nail is hammered into the Bape cammo coffin. Jarvis' iconic KING KEN figure was the pinnacle of his vinyl output when the big version dropped several years ago (if you've got a white one, you're a happy collector) and now this new line of 4" Mini Kens produced by the venerable toy aficionados STRANGECO revives the great ape's glory in pocket-sized form in six colorways—including two originals from the large series along with a special "chase" color—all in blindbox assortment. Look for them in Late November and pray for more soon from our man across the pond.

It's been a slow posting week as the crew's been runnin loose on the garden isle of KAUAI getting lost in the Hawaiian jungle, chasing rainbows on the beach, and waterfall jumping on a well-needed breakaway from the City of Angels. Keep yer eyes peeled for a lot of catching up, starting now. HAVE A LOOK:Read More

One of the upsides to BARACK OBAMA's presidential campaign is the massive support its received from the creative community. The downside? Unbeknownst to many, in most states those wildly supportive Obama garments can't be worn to vote because of old laws prohibiting candidate promotion at the polls. McCain supporters are counting on this little technicality having a noticeable impact on Obama turnout, especially among the highly motivated youth contingent, given their proclivity for wearing their support for Barack on their sleeves—literally. Read THIS to find out more, and keep your Obama shirt in the closet on November 4th!...

As if being one of the world's foremost music producers, trendsetting fashionistas, streetwear entrepreneurs, ladykillers, and Louis Vuitton designers wasn't enough, the starmaking PHARRELL "SKATEBOARD P" WILLIAMS has now added high-end modern furniture design to his extensive resume with the official debut of his "Perspective" chairs at GALERIE EMMANUEL PERROTIN in Paris this week. A seat supported with the legs of both a man and a woman, the "Perspective" chair was created to resemble a street-level view of a couple in the midst of getting it on, is rendered in slick acrylic, and available in four colors with the choice of leather, incredibly un-PC veal skin, or velour leather for the seating material. Priced well out of reach of Pharrell's loyal legion of young streetwear zombies (the chairs cost a wee bit more than the most expensive pair of Bapes), these pricey walkers are sure to be the furniture of choice for a new wave of rap videos to come. HAVE A LOOK:Read More